Do your Pitchers play when not pitching...

[amazing]

Man,
You guys are trippin! All positions and playing time should be earned on a select team. If a pitcher is one of the best 8 players/hitters on your team when she is not pitching then she has "EARNED" the opportunity to play. I have several really good pitchers on my team and none of them ever leave the field. They work harder than anyone else on the team when it comes to hitting, fielding and pitching. Why would I not reward that behavior and work ethic? These kids love the game, all of the game, not just pitching. Let the best players who work the hardest bear the fruit of their labor.

[Sftbll4ever]

I hope I don't offend anyone but if your daughter is not tall or stocky, make sure she hits and plays other positions. I believe college coaches want to make sure they can get their money out of the girls. If your daughter doesn't advance as a pitcher, then the college coaches know they can get some use out of your daughter and she won't be wasted money.

So what do you consider small and stocky?

[Scoobydoo]

I appreciate all the feedback. In this case the young lady in question was our #2 pitcher and has played infield about 50 % of the time when not pitching and outfiled the other time and she has only come off the field for a couple innings since the fall. We have let her bat in every game. Her Mom thinks she should only play infield when not pitching and never play outfield. So with that said we are glad to let her move on knowing that Mom will get a wake up call eventually.

Coolstuff, Thanks for making that more clear for me, My DD does not pitch and plays Centerfield so no Daddy Ball here.

[Blind Squirrel]

Coolstuff, Thanks for making that more clear for me, My DD does not pitch and plays Centerfield so no Daddy Ball here.

A suggestion: Have your kid play left and right field when possible. Those positions are a little different from CF and the experience might come in handy later on. Might also help her CF play to have the perspective of the others.

John

[coolstuff]

Man,
You guys are trippin! All positions and playing time should be earned on a select team. If a pitcher is one of the best 8 players/hitters on your team when she is not pitching then she has "EARNED" the opportunity to play. I have several really good pitchers on my team and none of them ever leave the field. They work harder than anyone else on the team when it comes to hitting, fielding and pitching. Why would I not reward that behavior and work ethic? These kids love the game, all of the game, not just pitching. Let the best players who work the hardest bear the fruit of their labor.

I stand by my statement. The better TB teams keep one pitcher in the dugout ready to warm up if needed.

[gunshy]

When my team was 12u, we had a similiar mentality to that of "amazing"; play the most athletic players all the time, yada, yada. Then we played our first USA/ASA National and was exposed to the west coast teams who arrived with 18-20 players each in uniform. I was amazed at how these teams could possibly play that many kids, keep them happy and keep that many parents somewhat happy. We did very well, playing on the last day before running out of gas and finishing 7th. I spent a great deal of time talking to the Cali coaches and asking those questions I had. First, in relation to playing time, the standard answer was:if they don't like it, they can leave. There are 10 more waiting in line to take their place to play on a quality team. Most teams also had at least 2 players that ONLY ran the bases; they NEVER played the field or hit. The parents I spoke to were glad to be a part of the best teams, telling me that what their kids were learning in practice alone was worth the fees they paid!!?? These teams had pitchers warming up constantly, as they didn't have enough catchers to warm them all up simultaneously.Even at 12u, most of these kids pitched only; now there were a few exceptions where the 6 ft 12 year old pitchers did hit, but they were monster hitters, obviously not just hitting to make dad happy. After that National, we changed our thinking slightly in relation to our pitchers and the size of our roster. If the TEAM was to be successful and competitive at this level, we had to carry at least 12-13 kids and have the right combination of position players to be able to rest pitchers when they were not pitching. To play and compete on the National level, your #1 pitcher has to be at her best PITCHING and you have to have a second quality pitcher to rest #1 on those hot, 3-4 game days if you want to succeed.

[softball_rules5]

Gunshy, you make a great point about the differences between Califonia and Indiana mentalities. The differences between California softball and Indiana softball are night and day. By the time you are a 12u player in CA, you are basically told you either pick softball only or move on. In California, there are simply more players so its easier to specialize players. Parents are more "on board" with the whole team atmosphere simply because of what you state, you dont like it - move on - their are 10 more waiting. You wouldn't see that in Indiana. In California, there are 10x more players that are waiting to take the place of another player. In Indiana, IMO, the players are as talented, but just not as many. I feel like in Indiana that a lot of the more all around talented players are pitchers. If they earn their spot in the line-up then they deserve to play. I know we play our pitchers. The only place we wont put them is behind the plate. Our pitchers work hard, are great athletes, have a great approach on the field and at the plate, and we feel give us the best chance to win when they are in the line-up. Just an opinion.

[amazing]

Gunshy, you make a great point about the differences between Califonia and Indiana mentalities. The differences between California softball and Indiana softball are night and day. By the time you are a 12u player in CA, you are basically told you either pick softball only or move on. In California, there are simply more players so its easier to specialize players. Parents are more "on board" with the whole team atmosphere simply because of what you state, you dont like it - move on - their are 10 more waiting. You wouldn't see that in Indiana. In California, there are 10x more players that are waiting to take the place of another player. In Indiana, IMO, the players are as talented, but just not as many. I feel like in Indiana that a lot of the more all around talented players are pitchers. If they earn their spot in the line-up then they deserve to play. I know we play our pitchers. The only place we wont put them is behind the plate. Our pitchers work hard, are great athletes, have a great approach on the field and at the plate, and we feel give us the best chance to win when they are in the line-up. Just an opinion.

There are two pitchers/players in our area who have been offered big school D1 schlorships to be a position player in college but also have smaller D1 offers and smaller school offers to pitch. These girls now have the opportunity to pick what will make them happy in college. Good thing they played for teams and coaches who gave them both opportunities. I understand both sides of this discussion but you have to let the special ones be special.

[SiddFinch]

In Indiana, IMO, the players are as talented, but just not as many. I feel like in Indiana that a lot of the more all around talented players are pitchers.

Maybe at 12u, but not at the older age groups. Matter of fact, I can't think of a "contenting" team that their best "all around" player is a pitcher at 16 or 18u. Not sure who you are watching. I would actually like you to name a couple for us.

[gunshy]

As with any discussion on this board, there are exceptions to the rule. I don't disagree that coaches should let the very special players be very special, but relative to this discussion I believe them to be the exception rather than the rule. I also agree that pitchers are some of the hardest working and most trade-dedicated players on the team.That being said, at some point MOST players have to make a decision that a) they are going to be the best possible shortstop they can be and spend their practice time hitting and working double play footwork, or b) dedicate themselves to having an unhittable riseball or a change up that moves backwards.................but VERY few have the time and motivation to do both. A college coach from a prominent SEC school contacted me about one of my pitchers and asked me the following questions: How many times per week does she see her pitching instructor? How many times per week outside of team practice does she throw? How many pitches total does she throw during practice and during her outside of practice workouts? How many different pitches does she throw? How many of each different pitch does she throw during practice?
Bear in mind that he is asking this of a player who is playing the most challenging schedule possible, meaning that each tournament plays at least 3 days per week every week all summer.
It doesn't take much to figure out the level of position-dedication that this coach was seeking. I am of the opinion that VERY few players are actually special enough to be able to be the best possible pitcher, best possible slapper and best possible 2nd baseman simultaneously. Some are, the vast majority are not. As a coach, I don't make those decisions for my players, rather put them in a position to make them for themselves. I do encourage them to make a decision and dedicate themselves one way or the other, or risk being a jack of all trades and master of none, as one local D-1 coach referred to a player.